What a difference a couple of days make! Things sure hit rock bottom after the 5-0 loss to Edmonton. Fans tossed Leaf jerseys onto the ice, the team was deservedly booed off the ice, and chants of "fire Ron Wilson" were louder than most Go Leafs Go chants this year. It was time for something to give. It was high-time for ownership to stand up for fans that have cheered them on religiously, fans that have put up with years of disgusting moves, listless teams and yet increased ticket prices. It was time to at least fire a coach whose act has not just grown thin, it is over. But MLSE, and their new crowned king, Brian Burke chose to stand behind their pawn and give him a vote of confidence. They may as well have taken daggers and stabbed them deep in the hearts of Leaf fans, then given them a twist just so it hurt more.
All is well now. The Leafs have won a game. Kadri, our future star, scored the goal of our dreams and Kessel, Burke's prized acquisition, flew in on Tim Thomas and the gust of wind created by his jet like speed pushed Thomas deep into the net with the puck between his legs. The puck crossed the line and we won the good 'ole hockey game, just like in the song. The Home team won even after trailing behind!!
We are so hungry to see a winner, a one game win streak is enough to reload the band wagons. Let's all light a candle in Leaf Nation and have a love-in for the coach now. That's exactly what MLSE's business plan calls for right?
Don't get me wrong, I've been a Leaf fans since I was in diapers, and probably will be till I'm in diapers again. This year though, things are very different. Patience is not wearing thin, it's been lost! Normally, after a win, Leaf Nation would be planning the parade. Tonight most of us were hoping for a loss. Yes! You read that correctly! A bunch of Season Seat Holders at the Marlies game were talking and we were hoping the Leafs lost. Needing a major shake up, we wanted our beloved team to continue their futility for just another game or two. Fire Ron Wilson, fire Brian Burke, just do something to show us you care about the fans. The Leaf brass had 10 or 11 people in their suite this afternoon, and the speculation that changes could be on their way had us more excited than the remote possibility of a Leaf win. But, on the other hand, we understand MLSE's vision. The fans aren't what this is all about anymore. It's not about hockey or championships, its about leveraging the team to maximize revenue and profitability.
Should we continue to fall for MLSE's teasing? Will things ever get better? John Ferguson Jr. was let go about three years ago and Leaf Nation was ecstatic. It wasn't that the futility of the organization was JFJ's fault, however it was sign that MLSE was doing something, anything, to right the ship. The hope of Leaf Nation was that Brian Burke would ride in from the sunset and save us from over 40 years of pain and suffering. Burke rolled in two years ago and parade routes were planned. Burke resolved JFJ's bad trade for Toskala and the signing of Blake with one swift move. He has also dealt with the Finger contract by burying it with the Marlies. But Burke has made his share of mistakes as well. Kessel, Gerber, Versteeg have all cost us a part of the future. Wilson's mishandling of Kadri, Hanson, Bozak, and we could go on, could be devastating. The coach however is given a vote of confidence by Burke, more for friendship with the boss than accomplishments. The team has not scored in 25% of the games and has scored one or less goal in 10 of 25 games, yet the coach gets a passing grade? How are players supposed to succeed when the coach benches them and calls them out in the media over one mistake? Players start limiting their creativity, play tentative and play out of fear rather than be aggressive. What happens? They stop taking chances and play the safe game. End result? Your scorers will hang back and chances are, you won't score. Sound familiar? Players are not allowed to make one mistake! Think about you at your workplace. How would you feel about working in an environment where you could not make one mistake? And if you did, imagine your boss calling up the media and telling them about your "nasty habits". Forget security on the job, this is borderline mental and emotional abuse! Why is Wilson not held accountable for his actions? How is he allowed to get away with using a system that has the special teams at the bottom of the league and a combined three year record that is disgraceful? Why does he keep inserting Lebda into a lineup every time he thinks people aren't watching, only to have Lebda cost us another game? Why was Rosehill sent down after being the best player in training camp? Why isn't Wilson called out for making these mistakes over and over again? Calling out offensive players for their lack of defense, stalling the development of the team's future stars, and every once in a while questioning the fans for believing in a team that is not supposed to win. Maybe we should get him Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Evgeni Nabokov.....oh, been there done that? He didn't win a damn thing with them either? Great system he has going. Give the man a raise and contract extension.
Which employer would put up with an employee that starts bad mouthing the tools he has been given from day one on the job? MLSE does. I guess being a pension fund, paying people without achievement or accountability is normal for MLSE. But to give an employee that hasn't accomplished anything, nor has shown any signs of there being a light at the end of the tunnel, a free pass to under achieve for three years without any consequence is absurd! What do they care? It's much easier to fire the fans than the coach because even if all 20,000 fans boo and toss jerseys, there are 20,000 more waiting to over-pay to see the next night's version of Brian and Ron's Excellent Adventure - Hell On Ice. We are so hungry to see a winner, a ONE game win streak would be enough to reload the band wagons. Must have been a line-up at Real Sports after the game for jerseys.
As a season seat holder with MLSE's "other" hockey team, I've had the pleasure of watching a real coach put on a clinic of how to get the most out of players on a nightly basis. Sure, he's a tough coach, however he knows how to motivate, build confidence and maximize productivity from his players. He's had the same players in his line up that Wilson criticizes and condemns. Interesting thing is that the Kadris, Hansons, Bozaks thrive under his leadership as they are allowed to utilize their talents and creativity - the same tools that brought them to the show in the first place.
A young, aggressive coach with a vision for today's game and the respect of his players is what is needed for today's NHL. Dallas Eakins brings all that and more. He will be an NHL coach sooner rather than later. It would be a shame if we let him go, however with Burke and MLSE willing to fire the fans rather than the unproductive employee that stands behind the Leaf bench, shame is all that us die hard Leaf fans have to look forward to. And that's why tonight's shootout win feels like game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Stand up and cheer Leaf Nation. One game win streaks are as good as it gets. As we jump back on the bandwagon, money keeps rolling in for MLSE and prevents us from realizing our dreams of seeing a Stanley Cup in Toronto. Ron Wilson and his winless ways are here to stay. We're fired!
Asif Khan, Realtor
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
